Virtual Songcircles

Now that our in person Songcircles are dark until further notice, we have had several Songmakers organize virtual Zoom songcircles. Unfortunately, only the person who is taking a turn can have their mic live due to the time lag. However, anyone can mute their mic and sing and play along! Thanks go to all of our organizers. For tips on using Zoom during a Songcircle, see Prez Sez below at the end of the songcircle list.

Songmakers and other virtual Song Circles Information you are welcome to share with non-members too!

(updated as needed – last update – 6/04/2020)

Jun 06 (link updtd 5/23) Saturday 7-9pm: Santa Monica Folk Club Zoom musical get together. Moderator to be Ellen Silverman – Not the same link from last month. Has a different access #. Zoom has changed its format a bit. There is no password this month. The way it works is only one person can play at a time because the sounds do not sync, so everyone else needs to be muted while the performer is playing…but you can accompany, sing or dance wherever you are. Between songs we can all unmute and chat. And we will all have an opportunity to share the music. Enjoy…a big virtual hug Ellen. Join Zoom Meeting via https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83887937316 Meeting ID: 838 8793 7316

If you are aware of a public virtual song circle or want to host one, please provide the info to Calendar@Songmakers.org for inclusion to our members.

For quick, accurate ZOOM SETUP FOR MUSIC PERFORMANCE, see the updtd 5/31/2020 step by step procedures below provided by Joel Amromin. Also below is the original Steve Berman Zoom notice.

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ZOOM SETUP FOR MUSIC PERFORMANCE

(updtd 5/31/2020 provided by Joel Amromin)

Because Zoom is “tuned” for spoken word, it is less than perfect for music without some configurations. Here are procedures for configuring Zoom for music. These procedures depend on using “original sound,” which bypasses the Zoom processing for spoken word, such as noise suppression. You want it pure. Note: Specific functions, labels, and locations will vary depending on what operating system and hardware you use. The procedures get shorter for simpler devices because they have less capability. Zoom is not particularly good when it comes to consistent interfaces across platforms, so there are separate procedures below for various devices. For performing music, Zoom works best on a workstation or laptop with a hardwired (Ethernet) connection to a network. Wireless local connections, such as Bluetooth or WiFi are less effective and may have audio dropouts and/or video freezes depending on signal quality. Cellular connection is the poorest.

If you do not already have it, download and register the Zoom client for meetings at https://zoom.us/download. After May 31, 2020, you must be on version 5.0.0 or later.

Start the Zoom client. (Not necessary for a Smartphone.)

Follow one of these three procedures.

For a workstation or laptop (should be about the same for Mac or Windows):

Join the meeting. If asked, log on with video. Click the up arrow next to the picture of a microphone, usually at the bottom left side of the screen.

Click “Audio Settings.” The Audio Setting window appears.

Turn off (uncheck) “Automatically adjust microphone volume” and set the Input Volume slider at around 90%. If people complain about your volume, you may have to adjust it up or down, which you can do during the meeting.

Also on the Audio Settings window, click Advanced; then make sure “Show in meeting option to ‘Enable Original Sound’ from microphone” is on (checked); then close the Settings window.

Click “Turn on Original Sound,” which is usually at the top of the meeting window. When set correctly, it will say “Turn off Original Sound.” The button shows the action it will take, not the current state – which is confusing.

Zoom instructions updated 05/31/2020 For a tablet, such as iPad (should be the about same on other tablets):

Click the Settings icon, which looks like a little gear; then click Meetings. The Meeting Settings window appears.

Scroll the window down until you see “Use Original Sound.” Turn that on (checked); then exit the Meeting Settings.

Join the meeting. If asked, log on with video. Click the three dots labeled “More.” Click “Enable Original Sound.”

When performing, you should be close to the microphone to avoid dropouts.

For a smartphone, such as iPhone (should be the about same on other smartphones):

No need to start the client; simply join the Open Mic meeting. If asked, log on with video.

Click the three dots labeled “More.” Then click “Enable Original Sound.”

When performing, you should be close to the microphone to avoid dropouts.

Have as little as possible running on your system while hosting, maybe just Zoom, your email and whatever text files you might want to screen-share with lyrics and chords of songs you plan to play. Use a hardwired (Ethernet) connection to your router. You can put speedtest.net in a browser and check your download and upload speed through Ethernet vs WiFi, and with different applications running. My download speed more than doubled with Ethernet and little else running.

Use an external microphone and speakers if available. Built in computer audio input/output should work (that is all I have), but not as well.

Before anyone enters the meeting, use the following steps to optimize your Zoom for Music:

Editors Note: Original Instructions from Steve are:

When you see your face upon starting the meeting, click up arrow to the right of the microphone (audio) icon in the lower left of your screen, and go down to Audio Setting

Test sound to be sure it passes. I was advised that you should then turn off both “automatically adjust volume”, and use the sliders to set them high, which you can continue to adjust throughout the meeting. However, I have not experimented with this yet in a meeting so you may want to do so.

Click advanced at the bottom right and check the REALLY important parameters for music: Check “Show in-meeting option to Enable Original Sound” at top. Make sure original sound is enabled during the meeting. DISABLE suppression of the 2 forms of background noise. Leave echo suppression on auto. Your music quality will thank you 🙂

I think these are good tips even when you are not hosting, if they can be applied, to make your individual audio optimal.

After starting a session, you can assign anyone who joins to be the host instead of you. This can help if they have a better system than you do, especially audio input/output devices, speed/bandwidth. However, experiment, and pass on your own wisdom to your fellow Songmakers via me, TJ at the weekly EChord, and/or website posts that comprise the new Bard Chord.

I hope to see you soon on my Zoom channel, 637717652. I’ll host the Virtual Agoura Hills Song Circle from 7-10 pm each Sunday until we can play in the same room again. May that day come soon. You may be required to provide the password, 008615, because hackers disrupting Zoom meetings have recently mandated increased security. The invitation is above in the listings.

The famous Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times” seems particularly appropriate now. Stay home, stay safe, keep playing music, and we’ll get through these “interesting times” together. Remember to give thanks for all our blessings every single day! They didn’t have the internet in the 1918 pandemic! Songmakers will always be high on my gratitude list!

Songmakers have a lot of fun every year at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest! Many members participate in the contests as well as jam. Come join us at Songmakers Corner to participate or listen. Louise Dobbs has written about the Songmakers Corner at the 2017 Contest. Read more…

What is that fall event “Music in the Mountains” all about? Janice Gelenscer has written articles about our past events at De Benneville Pines Read more…

Save your old guitar strings in the packaging that the new strings came in for the Second Strings Project. They can be given to any board member, Click HERE for more info